Don’t volunteer for “Work Experience” or the “Sector Based Work Academy”!

• Do not agree to volunteer for the Sector Based Work Academy: You will be sanctioned if you try to leave the scheme.

• Many people are given the impression that they must do the Work Experience scheme or face sanctions. This is not the case: you do not have to agree to do it and you can leave without facing direct sanctions.

• However, leaving the Work Experience scheme can be used as an excuse to force you to do Mandatory Work Activity (MWA). Beware that if you don’t have recent work experience, and do not consider volunteering or the Work Experience scheme, you may be referred to MWA.

Mandatory Work Activity: check and challenge your eligibility

We have seen people referred for this just because they have challenged their advisor. But there are strict DWP guidelines on who should be sent on MWA, which you can use to challenge referral. You do not have to go on this scheme if:

• you are currently working (paid or voluntary)

• you are undertaking employment related study or training

• you are taking part in, or recently completed, another “employment measure”

• the only reason given is your advisor thinks you haven’t been meeting your jobseeker’s agreement